A History of the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

By William G. Hackworth;
Contributed by James & Cindy Kinas
Click here for
a roster of the regiment |||
Click
here to read a roster of the unit's deadClick
here to read two letters from Sherman Wyre of Company H |||
Click
here to read the diary of Cyrus Farver of Company HClick
here to read the diary of William Karg of Company MClick
here to read a letter from Walter Bennett of the USS ST. PAUL to William
Karg of Company MClick here
to read an Obituary for William G. Hackworth of the 8th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry

General:

This page includes documents handwritten by William Hackworth. It
records personal information on himself, and also a history of the 8th
Ohio, which saw action in Cuba. A second document gives a brief intinerary
for the unit. The 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was mustered into service
on May 13, 1898 at Columbus, Ohio. At the time of mustering, the unit consisted
of forty-eight officers and 838 enlisted men.

On July 6, 1898 left the U.S. for Cuba,
aboard the TransportST.
PAUL (not YALE as indicated below) arriving four days later. The 8th
Ohio remained in Cuba until August 18, arriving
back in the U.S. on August 26 aboard the TransportMOHAWK.
The unit was mustered out of service on November 21, at Wooster, Ohio.
At the time of mustering out, the 8th Ohio consisted of fifty officers
and 1,180 enlisted men.

During its term of service, the regiment lost four officers and sixty-eight
enlisted men who died of disease. In addition, two enlisted men deserted
and seven men were discharged on disability.

Enlisted from Columbiana County, Ohio, on the 26th day of April,
1898, to serve two years, and was mustered into the United States service
at Columbus, Ohio, on the 13th day of May, 1898, as a Corporal of Captain
William M. Hill’s COMPANY “E”, 8TH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, Colonel
Curtis V. Hard commanding.

The Eight Ohio Volunteer Infantry was mustered into the United States
service at Camp Bushnell, Columbus, Ohio, May 13th 1898, with the following
field officers, viz: - Curtis V. Hard, Colonel; Charles W. F. Dick, Lieutenant
Colonel; Edward Volrath, Frederick C. Bryan, and Charles C. Weybrecht,
Major. The regiment left Camp Bushnell May 18th and arrived at Camp
Alger, Va., May 20th, where it remained until July 5th, when orders came
for the 8th Ohio to move to Santiago under General
Miles, as part of the relief expedition. The Sixth Illinois commanded
by Colonel D. Jack Foster, in the brigade with the 8th, left Camp Alger,
July 5th for Charleston, S.C., the 8th Ohio and Sixth Massachusetts, departed
by way of Newport News and was taken on board the “Yale” which was occupied
by General Miles as headquarters from Charleston
to Cuba. The regiment arrived at Siboney July 10th and re-enforced
General
Shafter, commanding the 5th Army Corps,
together with the First Illinois, Sixth
Massachusetts, First District Columbia, and First Battalion Sixth Illinois.
At 6o’clock on the morning of the 11th the American lines were ordered
to open fire on the Spanish defenses. The firing was very effective
and much damage was done. The batteries opened upon the enemy from
El Pozo Hill, and the fleet fired its shells into the City of Santiago.
Every preparation had been made for a combined assault both by land and
sea. Toral had twice refused to make an unconditional surrender,
and General Shafter and Commodore
Schley and Sampson determined to give the
Spaniards only one more chance and then destroy the City of Santiago with
the batteries from the shore and on the war-ships. As the morning
advanced the firing became heavier. It had been agreed to give the
Spaniards a foretaste of the destructive powers of the American forces.
From the sea the bombardment was begun by the “Newark” with its eight inch
guns, and then the “New York” and
“Brooklyn”
followed, and the men of the Eight could see the Signal Corps of men on
a high ridge wigwagging in the effect of the shots to the ships.
The first heavy volley fired from the American lines almost effectually
silenced the Spanish soldiers in the trenches, and hardly a sign of life
could be seen there.

The Eighth Ohio bore a loyal part and was ever ready to obey every
command, and in the grim contest against fever and pestilence, left a number
of heroes buried in graves near Siboney and Santiago. This regiment
was known as “McKinley’s Own” and established
itself forever in the hearts of its townsmen and citizens of Ohio, who
will recite its deeds and bravery in years to come. The soldiers
of the regiment were mostly young men, who volunteered against a foreign
foe, to protect the Union, for which their fathers before them fought so
valiantly to preserve.

The said William G. Hackworth was confined in hospital at Camp Alger,
with measles, for about two weeks, and then sent home on furlough of thirty
days, rejoining his regiment at Wooster, Ohio.

He was at all other times with his command and performed faithful
and meritorious service.

He was HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Wooster, Ohio, on the 21st day of
November, 1898, by reason of General Order of the War Department.

He was born in Lewis County, Kentucky, on the 6th day of December,
1872, was united in marriage to Anna M. Shannon, at East Liverpool, Ohio,
on the 30th day of August, 1900, from which union was born one child, Willis
E.

These facts are thus recorded and preserved for the benefit of all
those who may be interested.

Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces Called into
Service During the War with Spain; with Losses fromAll Causes. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899).
(General Info.)

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